The Surface Pro, unlike the Surface with Windows RT, has an Intel architecture processor and runs the full version of Windows 8. This allows it to run normal Windows desktop applications like a regular PC. The Surface Pro uses Intel's Ivy Bridge chips, and therefore has notebook-class battery life of several hours, not the all-day, always-on battery life users expect from tablets, and which the Surface with Windows RT, which runs an ARM architecture processor, has. Some other Windows 8 tablet makers are using the newer Intel Clover Trail chips with an Atom processor. These have much greater battery life.

Just because the server market's in the doldrums doesn't mean innovation has ceased. Far from it -- server technology is enjoying the biggest renaissance since the dawn of x86 systems. But the primary driver is now service providers, not enterprises.